Breakthroughs in Consciousness: The Evolution and Development of Consciousness to the Modern Day

Join Alex Criddle for the second salon in the Breakthroughs series and explore the evolution and development of consciousness.

After looking at the development of language and its role in human evolution, we’ll tackle the evolution of consciousness from its disputed origins through the modern day. How and when did we develop phenomenal experience? How has it shifted from our earliest ancestors, through the development of what Erik Hoel calls “the intrinsic perspective” in the ancient Mediterranean societies, to the modern day?

We’ll discuss the different contemporary theories of consciousness and historical breakthroughs in our understandings of what consciousness is. Technological developments have undoubtedly shaped modern conscious experience. We’ll look at the role shifts in consciousness have played throughout history, why consciousness has developed the way it has, and what our future consciousness technologies and developments hold.